The Developer's Thoughts
FLEXSCHE products originally started fromFLEXSCHE Components(FLEXSCHE Components) as a "platform for building production scheduling systems." This was developed as a third scheduling solution to resolve the dilemma that package software's standard functions alone cannot meet the diverse demands of the manufacturing industry, yet a fully custom-made solution poses significant technical and economic challenges.
General production scheduling package software has the advantage of being equipped with abundant functions while being relatively low-cost to implement. However, from my quarter-century of experience in developing production schedulers, I can assert that simply increasing standard functions to expand the application range has its limits, and it is clear that it cannot truly solve all the problems faced by every manufacturing site.FLEXSCHE Componentswas introduced to the market to solve this problem and has been well-received. Especially from integrators and manufacturing planners who already have experience in implementing and operating production schedulers, we have received empathy and high evaluations for this concept and solution.
FLEXSCHE ComponentsWith it, the goal of building a high-level production scheduling system with far fewer man-hours and know-how than custom-made solutions was indeed achieved. However,FLEXSCHE Componentsits biggest weakness is that it always assumes professional integration. It was still a high hurdle for end-users to implement on their own.
Therefore,FLEXSCHE Componentswe decided to develop a general-purpose package software based on it. This must be a general-purpose and complete package software that incorporates the diverse production scheduling know-how and technology accumulated by our company, allowing for more flexible settings and modeling than existing schedulers within the range of standard functions. And that is FLEXSCHE GP.
In developing FLEXSCHE GP, we set and realized the absolute condition that, "even if there are special requirements, they can be addressed through programming,"FLEXSCHE Componentswithout losing (and even amplifying) the characteristics that decisively differentiate it from other schedulers.
It should be noted that the existence of "special requirements" is not always clear at the time of introduction decision. It is not uncommon to realize their existence (and necessity) after investing a considerable amount of money. Even in such situations, choosing FLEXSCHE GP, which has a sure way to respond, can significantly reduce the risks and anxieties of system construction.
When faced with a problem, it is relatively easy to solve it as requested. However, that does not allow for growth as a system. It will probably become bloated with patches over time. Therefore, our company always strives to identify the essential and general elements lurking beneath these problems and implement them as primitive and highly abstract models or mechanisms.
We have repeatedly experienced that when faced with another problem later, even if it is a first-time problem, it can be solved by combining accumulated primitive models and functions. We are confident that having a rich and flexible "vocabulary" (≠ functions) is what always makes FLEXSCHE products flexible.
When we solve one problem, we receive a request of a higher level. By repeating this process, FLEXSCHE products are refined and grow. The technology of production scheduling is profound, and while it presents us with challenging trials, overcoming them stimulates our motivation as engineers.
As a small company, we cannot independently introduce FLEXSCHE products to many factories. However, through partnerships with solution providers nationwide, we are committed to strongly supporting Japan's manufacturing industry. FLEXSCHE products, including FLEXSCHE GP, will continue to grow, so please look forward to it.
FLEXSCHE Corporation Founder
Mikio Urano
*The text is published as it was when Urano was the representative director.